If you have problems with pests in your landscape, concrete can be an excellent solution. It is termite, mold and mildew resistant, and does not attract small mammals like some wood finishing products can. Concrete is also fireproof and durable.
When you’re ready to get serious about the landscaping around your house, you may find that you need something big and weighty to put along the outside of a flowerbed. In many cases, decorative concrete blocks could be the perfect solution.
Concrete can actually help reduce the temperature in cities in the summer. Concrete reflects sunlight, and the so-called "heat island" effect in big cities has been pegged to the widespread use of asphalt paving, not concrete.
Do not let extremes of heat or cold bring your project to a halt. Installing manufactured concrete products means always moving forward, because weather vagaries have no impact since the materials have already cured.
Post-in-ground construction was a type of early home foundation system. Wooden posts were driven into the ground and would bear the weight of the structure.
If you will be using manufactured concrete in high-traffic areas, we recommend applying a good sealant once the main construction is completed. This is simply a protective measure to make sure that the surface does not become accidentally stained.
There are generally four types of concrete that are used. Ready-mixed concrete is the kind you see in trucks, while precast concrete is made in a factory setting. Then, there are cement-based materials (like terrazzo) and advanced concrete materials that use fibers.
The Hoover Dam, built on the Colorado River about 30 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, is the largest concrete structure in the U.S. The estimated 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete in the dam is enough to build a 16-foot-wide highway from San Francisco to New York City.
When concrete is used in constructions, it offers the opportunity for a wide range of surface finishes that can be applied either when the concrete is still wet or once it has hardened. This allows for a great deal of architectural expression as well as structural integrity.
Can snowplows and snow blowers be used on concrete parking lots and walkways? Yes. Concrete parking lots and walkways are safe for snowplows as long as the surfaces are smooth and snow blowers can be used to clean textured concrete surfaces.
When evaluating a slab foundation, diagonal cracking is a red flag and a sure sign of a serious problem; immediate repairs may be needed to prevent more serious issues from developing.
Sam’s in St Pete doing a little bit of concrete
Another happy customer gets a new driveway
For some home foundation jobs, a concrete pump may be needed. This happens when the construction site environment is such that a cement mixer cannot be brought in.
Check the sturdiness of a slab foundation by chipping at an edge with a screwdriver. If it flakes, it was poured with too much sand or water and is degrading.
Portland cement is most commonly used to make concrete, but the name has nothing to do with the city in Maine or in Oregon. Portland cement was invented in 1824 in England, near the Isle of Portland.
Concrete will take much longer to cure in colder climates. By setting properly, your concrete foundation will be much stronger and last longer. This is a key factor to keep in mind when planning your build.
Did you know that you could choose a variety of colors when ordering custom concrete curbing? If you do order a custom color, this may increase the time between ordering and installation but it’ll definitely be worth the wait!
Pervious concrete allows moisture to pass through it. It's a handy material for sidewalks and roadways. Rain can transit porous concrete in surprising amounts, which makes it a desirable hardscaping material.
If you have broad expanse of property, or share unbroken boundaries with neighbors, concrete curbs and low walls will provide perspective to your landscaping, creating a more pleasant view.